Sue Frett has warned she will not stop until the Special Olympics movement is as big in the UK as it is in the USA.

The 75-year-old was last week shortlisted for the Community Award at the 2014 Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards on November 19.

Frett, who received a Queens Diamond Jubilee Pin from Prince Charles in 2012 for her volunteer work with disabled people, founded Special Olympics Surrey in 2007, having set up charity ‘Reach Out’ for youth and adult disabilities in 1993.

She started helping children with learning disabilities 50 years ago when son Jonathan first went to St. Philip’s School for children with intellectual challenges in Chessington.

“What are my goals for the future?,” she said last week.

“ I would like to see Special Olympics GB to become as big as it is in America.

“I would like to see all boroughs across the country recognising Special Olympics GB [SOGB] and what this recognition could do for disabled people would be outstanding.

“When I started, every child at Jonathan’s school had a learning disability.

“If they wanted books, PE kit, equipment I found a way of getting money for the school or the individual. I asked the pupils to paint me a picture of something they would like to do.

“Such good paintings came forward and those images gave me the inspiration. I still visit this school to this day.”

Frett’s son Jonathan was left with a learning disability after contracting measles as a 13-month-old and became a founder members of the Surrey squad as a keen ten pin bowler.

The county squad has since become one of the largest ten pin bowling teams in the country, with skiing, boccia, athletics, golf and kayaking becoming increasingly popular among Special Olympics athletes.

“Currently, Surrey has 75 athletes in weekly training,” added Frett.

“To see young men and women come to us as shy young people and then turn into confident athletes does bring tears to your eyes. “Not only do we encourage people to come on board as athletes, but we also encourage the parents to be involved. I get to know the families as well as the athletes.”

A host of Surrey competitors – including Cobham’s prolific Special Olympian Mikael Undrom – expect to be in the 116-strong Special Olympics GB squad heading to Los Angeles next year for the World Games.